Rechargeable Li-ion batteries have hugely contributed as reliable power sources for modern day portable electronics and presently appear poised to influence high power applications as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. With respect to Li-ion batteries, nano-sized electrodes have been intensively investigated for high power density applications as the advantage of using such electrodes remains two-fold. Firstly, nanomaterials provide a favorable structural framework that ensures shorter diffusion paths for the Li-ions to traverse from the core of the particles to the surface through the lattice, thereby yielding excellent electrochemical properties. Secondly, the large surface area of nanomaterials ensures enhanced electrode/electrolyte interfacial contact, thus leading to higher charge/discharge rates and good capacity retentions. We synthesized the following nano-structured electrodes as shown below:

Cathodes

Anodes

Sodium Ion batteries : Anodes, Cathodes

Cathodes

Solar cell

Due to the increasing demand for renewable energy resources, the development of different kinds of solar cells gains huge importance in the present day scenario. We focus on developing nano-electrodes suitable for efficient transfer of ions in the well-known simple and cheap dye-sensitized solar cells which is expected to play a vital role as an energy storage device in the near future. The schematic representation of the working in a dye-sensitized solar cell is shown below:

Fuel cell

Fuel cells are useful for a variety of energy needs including portable, transportation, and stationary applications since they offer clean energy with high efficiencies. However, a widespread commercialization of fuel cell technologies is hampered by high cost, durability, and operability problems, which are linked to severe materials challenges. Our research is focused on the design and development of electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), as well as new low thermal expansion electroctalysts for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).